Hungary's Wild East: Where cowboys and dreadlocked sheep roam

By Jasper Winn for CNN

Updated 4:19 AM ET, Fri June 13, 2014

Amazing animal experiences of Hungary's Wild East8 photos

Hortobagy National Park, Hungary – The great grassland plains that sweep out of eastern Hungary are home to an array of unusual animals and farming practices. Flamboyant csikos horsemen are the region's cowboys, famed for their horseback tricks.

Racka sheep – Hungary's racka sheep have long spiraling horns and, in some breeds, a dreadlocked fleece. The animals are farmed for their wool, milk and meat.

Hide Caption

3 of 8

Amazing animal experiences of Hungary's Wild East8 photos

Ancient farming land – The 800-square-kilometer Hortobagy National Park was awarded World Heritage status in 1999. It's still maintained by centuries-old farming practices.

Hide Caption

4 of 8

Amazing animal experiences of Hungary's Wild East8 photos

Magalica pigs – These hairy porkers are just one of many "curly" local breeds. Hungarians are known for their love of frizzy animals. Pigeons, geese and dogs have all been given the perm treatment through selective breeding.

Hide Caption

5 of 8

Amazing animal experiences of Hungary's Wild East8 photos

Hortobagy fishponds – Ponds dug by hand in the early-20th century for rearing fish near Hortobagy have since reverted to wilderness. They're now one of Europe's most important wetlands, providing a home to birds such as spoonbills.

Hide Caption

6 of 8

Amazing animal experiences of Hungary's Wild East8 photos

Przewalski's horses – Herds of rare Przewalski's horses and wild asses are among species left to roam free on the national park's grasslands.

Hide Caption

7 of 8

Amazing animal experiences of Hungary's Wild East8 photos

Crane migration – In the fall, tens of thousands of cranes congregate at Hortobagy's fishponds, prompting a festival in their honor.

The ponds were dug by hand in the early 20th century for rearing fish but have since reverted to wilderness and become one of Europe's most important wetlands.

For birders there are small delights, such as pygmy cormorants, blue throats and bearded tits, as well as spectacular flocks of spoonbills, avocets and marsh harriers, which can be seen from watchtowers, hides and boardwalks.

Madarpark, an infirmary for treating avian injuries in the village of Hortobagy, is a positive response to the bleak reality of car hits, orphaned fledglings and accidents caused by electricity cables.

Rescued and injured birds are predominantly big raptors.

Visitors can watch through the glass wall of the hospital theater as wings and legs are reset.

There are also platform viewing points in the walk-through aviaries where birds, including huge white-tailed eagles and storks, learn or re-learn, to fly.

Falconry demonstrations and an "eagle flight simulator" (a zipline ride that involves being suspended from a giant eagle figure) are also offered.